A tattooist who sexually preyed on teenage girls as he illegally inked them with designs was facing a lengthy jail sentence after he was convicted following a re-trial.
Paul McLellan, 46, was found guilty of eight offences of sexual assault and conduct towards five victims, four of whom were aged just 15.
McLellan was acquitted of a further four charges of sexual assault involving two more teenagers on not proven verdicts.
During his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, he had admitted a string of charges of tattooing minors at addresses in Dundee, including his former flat in Bonnethill Court, in 2012 and 2013.
McLellan, who has previous convictions for similar offences, was previously given a life sentence under an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) after his earlier trial.
He was found guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court following a trial in 2013 but was sent to the High Court to be dealt with because of its greater powers of sentencing.
Lord Uist described him as “a habitual and incorrigible offender” who was a threat to young females.
The judge ordered he serve a minimum term of five years imprisonment, but under an OLR any future release would be left to the parole authorities.
But lawyers acting for McLellan appealed against his conviction which was quashed following misdirection by the sheriff at his original trial. Authority was granted to the Crown to bring a fresh prosecution.
Following the verdicts, the judge at the latest trial, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, warned McLellan that he would consider “at the least” imposing an extended sentence on him involving custody followed by supervision but he may go on to look at imposing an OLR.
He told McLellan: “You have been convicted by the jury of a number of charges against young girls. It is clear on the basis of your previous convictions that you remain a danger to young girls.”
The judge placed him on the sex offenders register and continued the case until next month for a background report. McLellan remains in custody.
Teenagers had gone to McLellan seeking to have tattoos applied, including one who was wanting a tribute to a deceased relative.
But McLellan used the opportunities to molest victims and expose himself during sessions.
One teenager said he pushed her hand on to his private parts as she was having a tattoo applied.
The 18-year-old said: “I felt my hand being pushed past the zip. He was tattooing my arm.”
Another victim said she felt “scared and embarrassed” after he came into contact with her breast.
She told the court: “I just got up and never got in contact with him again.”
One teenager told the court that McLellan had put his hands on her breasts and exposed himself.
She said that after his behaviour she was “looking for excuses to leave his house”.